Whenever you are injured due to someone else’s negligent actions or inactions, you may be entitled to receive compensation to cover your injuries and other losses by filing a personal injury claim. Reaching out to personal injury attorneys to help you have a strong case for your defense may be a good starting point. However, to file a successful claim and not jeopardize your legal rights, there are some common mistakes you need to avoid. Read on to find out what these are.
Not Getting Medical Attention
Many people tend to minimize their pain or think that their injuries do not warrant a visit to the doctor. Nothing could be more damaging to your chances of recovering compensation than ignoring your health. In some cases, internal injuries may be impossible for someone with no medical training to detect. In other cases, injuries may not become fully apparent until some days after the accident. Having a doctor record your injuries in your medical record and attribute them to the accident may make all the difference in the result of your claim.
Not Gathering Evidence
There is nothing like having good, solid evidence when it comes to building a strong case. The best time and place to collect it is while you are still at the scene of the accident. When you are there, take pictures of the accident scene, of your injuries, and of anything that might have contributed to the accident. If you were in a car crash, take pictures of the cars and their damage, exchange information with the other driver regarding how to contact them, their driver’s license and insurance policy, and the make, model, year, and license plate of the car. If there are witnesses, get their testimonies and contact information. As soon as you can write down everything that happened so that you will not forget any important details.
Waiting Too Long to File a Claim
There are statutes of limitations that set deadlines for filing personal injury lawsuits. If you allow that time to slip by, you will likely be barred from seeking compensation for your losses and injuries. Your attorney can help you determine how much time you have to file your claim depending on the type of case and the state in which you reside. It will also be much more difficult to gather evidence if too much time has elapsed from the day you were injured. Witnesses may not be easy to find and they may also have forgotten important details.
Accepting a Low Offer
You may feel pressured by the insurance company to accept a low offer that may not cover all your expenses and medical bills. In this case, work with a personal injury attorney to negotiate with the insurance company and get the compensation you deserve to handle all costs associated with your injuries. Also, your injuries may not have healed completely and you may be facing further expenses which you will later be unable to claim.
